Hyundai Sonata vs Nissan Altima: Which Used Buy Wins?

As used buys (July 2026), the Hyundai Sonata typically lists for $23,960 against $20,213 for the Nissan Altima (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). The Hyundai Sonata takes fuel economy (28 MPG combined vs 26 MPG); the Hyundai Sonata leads on NCAP safety (5.0★ vs 4.9★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the SEL at $22,745 vs the S at $18,999; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.

Head to head

Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)

A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Hyundai Sonata SEL ($22,745) faces the Nissan Altima S ($18,999); the most common trims on the market are the SEL (64.0% of Hyundai Sonata listings) and the SV (72.0% of Nissan Altima listings); at the top of the market, the N LINE ($29,281) faces the SL ($24,547). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.

Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Hyundai Sonata prices · Nissan Altima prices.

Used price by model year

Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to buy used — Hyundai Sonata or Nissan Altima?

Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Nissan Altima is cheaper: it typically lists for $20,213 versus $23,960 for the Hyundai Sonata (national medians, July 2026).

Which gets better fuel economy — Hyundai Sonata or Nissan Altima?

The Hyundai Sonata: its typical rated version returns 28 MPG combined versus 26 MPG for the Nissan Altima (median across EPA-rated versions of the compared years).

Which is safer — Hyundai Sonata or Nissan Altima?

By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Hyundai Sonata averages 5.0 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.9 for the Nissan Altima. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.

Which is more reliable — Hyundai Sonata or Nissan Altima?

NHTSA lists an average of 4.7 recalls per model year for the Hyundai Sonata and 3.7 for the Nissan Altima — an edge for the Nissan Altima. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.

Which trims should I actually compare?

Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Hyundai Sonata SEL typically lists for $22,745 vs $18,999 for a Nissan Altima S; the most common trims on the market are the SEL ($22,745, 64.0% of Hyundai Sonata listings) and the SV ($19,990, 72.0% of Nissan Altima listings); at the top of the market, the N LINE ($29,281) faces the SL ($24,547). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.

Dig deeper

Hyundai Sonata — live listings & specs Nissan Altima — live listings & specs Hyundai Sonata prices by year Nissan Altima prices by year Hyundai Sonata MPG by year Nissan Altima MPG by year

See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.